Book type-writer.



N0. 637,8l6. Patented Nov. 28, I899.

J. H. MYERS.

BOOK TYPE WRITER.

(Application filed Mar. 13, 1899.) (No Model.) 5 SheetsSheet I.

Q WW" Fi Mal WW m Patented Nov. 28,1899.

Nu. 637,8l6.

. J. H. MYERS. BOOK TYPE WRITER.

(Application filed In. 13, 1899.)

(No Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H H E] ANN mus runs an. mmu'ma. WASHINGTON u, c.

' Pat'nted Nov; 23, I899.

J. MYERS. BOOK TYPE WRITER. (Application; filed 1m. 13, 1899.)

-5 $heets$heet 3.

(No Model.)

[/Ymt vroza no. 637,8l6. Patented Nov. 28, I999.

J. H. MYERS.

800K TYPE WRITER.

(Applicationflled Mar. 13, 1899.\

5' sheets-sheet 4.

(No Model.)

0w 9, m 8 2 V o N d e t n e t a P S R E Y M H L w 7 3 6 0 N 800K TYPE WRITER.

(Application filed Mar. 13, 1899.) {No Model.) 5 Sheets$heel 5.

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m: nomus PEYERS co. Pnmulua, WASHINGTON u. c.

I UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JAMES HAMILTON MYERS, OF SEDGWIOK, ARKANSAS BOOK TYPE-@WRITER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 637,816, dated November 28, 189i).

' Application filed March 13,1899. Seria1No.708,916. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES HAMILTON MY- ERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sedgwick,in the county of Lawrence and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Book Type-Writers, of which the following is a full,clear,and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention has relation to book typewriting machines; and it consists in the novel arrangement and combination of parts, more fullyset forth in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figures 1 and l" jointly represent the front elevation of the typewriter. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, the main supporting-frame being partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device, the portion of the frame nearest the observer being removed. Fig. 4 is a side sectional elevation, the section being taken on line 44 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the stationary supporting-frame of the machine. Fig. 6 is a face view of one side of the typedisk, with a part of the cover-plate broken away so as to expose the type-bars and sockets within which they are confined. Fig. 7 is a section online 7 7 of Fig. 6, the bottom socket having its type-bar removed. Fig. 8 is a View of a portion of the opposite face, showing the application of the springs for returning the type-bars back into their sockets. Fig. 9 is a sectional detail on line 9 9 of Fig. 2, showing the detail of the shifter-key and shifting plate actuated by the same, the legs or ears between which the bell-crank lever of the shifter-key is pivoted being omitted. Fig. 10 is a top plan of Fig. 9, with the shifter-key and parts carried thereby omitted. Fig. 11 is a sectional detail showing the front I-beam of the book-supporting frame, the feed-screw passing over the same, and devices for coupling the nut to the screw, the section being taken in a plane indicated on line 11 11 of Fig. 1, the terminal pinion carried by the screw, and standard for supporting the screw, and gear mechanism shown in Fig. 1 being omitted, however, from said sectional detail. Fig. 12 is a section on line 12 12 of Fig. 11; and Fig. 13 is a top plan of the parts shown in Fig. 11, with the operating-handle for the cam omitted.

The object of my present invention is to construct a book type-writer which shall be reversible, so that the same may write from left to right, or vice versa. A further object is to construct a machine which shall be simple, easily manipulated, and readily adjusted, one which will be accurate and keep perfect alinement, one containing a minimum numberof parts, one which will be comparatively light and durable, and onecontaining further and other advantages, which will be better apparent from a detailed description presently to follow.

In general the present device consists of an oscillating keyboard with a movable or traveling type-frame attached, the type-bars being carried by and disposed along the periphery of an oscillating or rotary type disk or cylinder, the particular letter of'the typedisk being brought into position and forced against the ink-ribbon by the depression of the key to the indicated character of which the letter in question corresponds.

It further consists of mechanism for advancing the type-frame with the depression of each key, the feeding being accomplished by theintermittent rotation of the feed-screw to which the type-frame is detachably coupled.

It further consists in mechanism for feeding the ribbon, in mechanism for reversing the travel of the type-frame, in means for ruling the pages of the book either vertically or horizontally, in means for adjusting the position of the type frame to the particular page to be operated on whatever may be the thickness of the book, in means for clamping the parts when once adjusted, in special mechanism for actuating the type-bars and vertical adjustment of the platforms 5 being accomplished bythe rotation in one direction or the other of suitable platform supporting and adjusting screws 7, the lower ends of the screws passing through the interiorly-screwthreaded lugs 8, projecting from between the flanges of the lower I-beam, and the upper ends of the screws having rigidly secured thereto sprocketwheels 9, over which the sprocket-chain 10 passes to impart simultaneous rotation thereto, the upper spindle of" each sprocket-wheel having a bearingin a socket 11-, depending from the lower ribbed surface of each platform. By seizing and drawing upon the sprocket-chain on either side, and thusrotating the screws, it is obvious that the platforms 5 may be brought to any desirable elevation, and hence the writ ing-surfaces of the pages on each side ofthe middle line of the book can be brought to substantially the same plane.

When the book is brought to the proper elevation, as just described, it must be adjusted horizontally to or from the operator in order to bring any part of the writing-surface div rectly under the type disk or cylinder.

Before describing the" details of either the typecylinder or the keyboard I shall first describethe mechanism by which the horizontal adjustment just referred to is accomplished.

Projecting,respectively, from the front and rear basal members of the frame 1,'between the rails 2, are standards 12 12 for the support of the horizontal feed-screw 13, the terminal reduced extensions or gudgeons 14 of said screw resting-0n top of said standards. The projecting end of the forward gudgeon has secured thereto a pinion 15, with which meshes a gear-wheel 16, mounted in front of the standard 12 below the pinion. Adapted to swing loosely about the hub of the gearwheel 16, in: a plane parallel to and in front of the-said gear-wheel, is an arm 17, provided with a knob or h-andle18, adapted to be seized by-theopera-tor. Pivoted on the arm 17 at a point adjacent to the handle and disposed along the rear surface of said arm is a double pawl 19, either end of which is adapted toen gage the teeth ofthe gear-wheel, one end or the other bei-ng'helil in such engagement by a spring-actuated stem 20 passing througha lug 21 on said arm, the spring being interposed between the lug and head 22, carried at the base of the stem. The edge of the head has cut therein'a recess 23, adapted to embrace a teat 24, formed along the periphery of theonter circular head of the stud or pivot of the pawl, when the pawl'will be held in such a position that neither end thereof shall engage the teeth of the gear-wheel; but

when the teat is disengaged from the recess and caused to bear against the wall of the head 22 on either side of said recess one or the other end of the pawl will engage with the gear-wheel, the stem permitting the pawl to ride over the teeth of the gear-wheel when the arm 17 is swung in one direction, but causing, it to positively engage the teeth and 'turn the wheel when swungin the reverse direction. The free end ofthe arm is provided with a pointer 25, codperating with the divisionmarks of a substantially semicircular graduated plate 26-,secured to the base of the frame 1 immediately behind the arm, the object of'the graduations being toena-ble the operator to swing the pointer along any predetermined number of such graduations, and thus impart a uniform feed to the screw 13, rotated through the-medium of the pinion 15, meshing with the gear-wheel. The screw 13, it will be observed, is intended to feed the booksuppo'rtingframe or carriage and 'thepbook mounted on topof the same the required horizontal-distance under the typeframe, permitting the type characters of the ing adapted to be coupled to or uncoupled from the frame by means of a coupling nut or block 28, whose upper surface is screwthreaded and partially embraces the peripheral surface of the feed-screw'whe-n'the parts are coupled, the block being guided: along the rear edges of the upper and lower flanges of the I-beam and confined between said I- beam and the vertical walls of a. dovetailed guideway 29, forming an integral depending portion of the lower section of the housing 27. (See Figs. 11 and 12.) The 'front face of the nut 28 is recessed to a suitable depth,

thereby leaving shoulders or ledges 30, be

tweenwhich is adapted to operate an eccentric orcam head 31 at the inner end of a rod or-shaft 32, passing through thewe-b of the I-beam, the outer end of the shaft being provided with an operating lever or handle 33,

' the swinging of which in one direction o-rthe A other will cause the cam 31 to engage either l M1 And-444* .MMM AMHMMM tally to or from the operator, it is necessary, of course, to couple the same to the feedscrew. This is done. as alreadv described. by forcing the nut 28 into engagement with the feed-screw, the latter being prevented from buckling under the circumstances by the walls of the housing 27, through which it .passes. When the book has been brought to the required line or position under the typedisk by the horizontal adjustment .just referred to, (said adjustment being effected, as already explained, by the turning of the feedscrew through the medium'of the pinion 15, gear-wheel 16, swinging arm 17, and pawl 19,) it will remain in said adjusted position until the coupling-nut 28 is released from the screw by throwing the lever 33 upward or in a direction so as to cause the cam 31 to positively engage the lower ledge 30 thereof, when the carriage will become disengaged from the feed-screw and may be freely moved along the rails to any desired position. The disengagement is resorted to when it is desirable to shift the carriage rapidly by hand to any initial position along the rails, after which it may be again coupled to the screw and fed thereby during the printing operation.

Having thus described the construction of the book-supporting frame or carriage and the manner of its horizontal adjustment and the manner of alining the surfaces of the pages of the book on each side of the hingeline of the leaves thereof, I shall now proceed to describe the details of the oscillating keyboard and the traveling type-frame coupled thereto.

The keyboard frame or casing 34 (that is, the frame which supports the keyboard and accessories) is supported rearwardly from the upper parallel horizontal front bars of the main frame 1, the frame 34 being provided with a stem 35, inserted between said bars and adjustable along the same, and when once adjusted being rigidly clamped thereto by the clamping-n ut 36, passed over the screwthreaded end of the stem, as clearly seen from the drawings. The keyboard 37 is pivoted at the opposite ends of its longitudinal axis to the frame 34, the keys being disposed along the keyboard on each side of the axis. The keyboard is restored to its original position upon the release of any depressed key by the resiliency of the spring arms or plates 38, which connect the forward edge of the keyboard with the front of the frame 34, the

connection between the plates and keyboard being effected in any mechanical manner, the inner ends of the plates being in the present instance simply inserted or let into sockets (not shown) formed along the front edge of the keyboard and frictionally held therein. Resting on top of the keyboard and adapted to be shifted longitudinally along the same (as presently to be described) is a shifting plate 39, the same being guided in its movement between the longitudinal ledges 40 of the keyboard, on each side thereof, the shifting plate being provided with circular openings 41 for the free passage therethrough of the stems 42 of the keys 43 and for the free passage of the adjusting-nuts 44 at the base of each key or button. The stem of each key passes through a guide-nut 45, received by screw-threaded openings in the keyboard, as clearly obvious from Fig. 4, the lower expanded limited ends or bases 46 of the several key-stems resting on an apron or wing 47, secured at its front edge along a longitudinal rod orhinge-pin 48, pivotally mounted at opposite ends of the frame 34 and disposed adjacent to the front edge thereof, the apron being held normally inclined, so as to contact with the bases of the several keys by the free ends of suit-able spring supporting-arms 49, secured at each end of the frame 34. Upon the fall and proper depression of any key the nut 44 thereof strikes the keyboard, (passing, as it does, through the opening 41 of the shifting plate,) the base of the stem of the key depressing the apron 47 against the resiliency of the arms 49, which restore it to its normal position the moment the key is released. The striking or impinging of the nuts 44 against the keyboard imparts an oscillating or rocking motion to the latter about its axis of suspension, the keyboard being always restoredto its original position by the spring arms or plates 38. The nuts 44 are so finely adjusted (the adjustment being made at the factory) along the stems 42 that the available lengths of no two stems are alike. In other words, 'the lengths of the stems below the nuts 44 are different for the several characters. The effect of this difference in the lengths of the several stems is that no two keys will be intercepted by the keyboard at the same point in their full downward stroke, and hence no two keys will move through the same distance to complete their full stroke after having once impacted against the keyboard; but as the distance of any keys movement after it has once impacted against the keyboard determines the angle of oscillation of the latter it follows that this angle will be different for every key of the series. The difference in the degree of oscillation of the keyboard for each key struck is made use of in operating the type-disk, as presently will appear. The rear edge of the keyboard has projecting therefrom a longitudinal couplingbead 50, directly and loosely embraced by the yoke 51 at the end of the short arm of an oscillating toothed segment or lever 52, the latter being pivoted to swing in a vertical plane about a pin 53, carried between the front depending brackets 54, forming a part of the type-carriage frame 55. The type-carriage frame 55 is suspended from theaxles or shafts 56 of the wheels 57, running over the transverse tracks or rails 58, the opposite ends of the latter being secured on top of the bowshaped brackets 59, mounted on each side of the top of the frame 1. The suspending-arms '60 loosely embrace the said shafts 56, the

width of the carriage-frame being such as' to pass underneath the rails 58, alongvwh'ich it is guided, and the lengths of the arms 60 being such as to bring the upper surface of the.

said carriage-frame in close contact with said rails, and thereby prevent oscillation thereof during its travel along the rails. The teeth of the segment 52 mesh with the teeth of a pinion 61', secured to a shaft 62, supported between the middle depending arms or brackets 63, forming part of the type carriage frame, .the same shaft 62 having secured thereto the type disk or cylinder 64, the said type-disk and pinion 61 rotating in unison with any oscillation to which the segment 52 maybe subjected by the depression of any key. The depression of any key effects a rotation of the type-disk 64 about its axis, the arc of rotation depending on the particular key struck, andhence on the angle of oscillation of the keyboard.

It was explained above 'thatwi'th the full depression of any key there would result a slight oscillation of the keyboard about its axis and that by reason of the difierence in the available lengths of the difierent keystems the degree of oscillation of such key]- board would vary with each key. Thus it happens that whatever may be the arc of oscillation of the rear beaded edge of the keyboard said bead 59 will, being as it is coupled'to the toothed segment 52 through the medium of the loosely-embracing yoke 51, rock said segment (up or down, it'matt-ers not which:,the direction depending on which side of the pivotal axis of the keyboard a key has been struck) through a different length of are for each key struck; but as the segment is meshed with the pinion 61 it will consequently rotate the type-disk through a different are for each key struck, and as the type-bars are so arranged along the type-disk that any type-bar will always be swung opposite the result.

same'point with the depression of the key corresponding thereto it follows (as will pres; ently appear) that by causing the type-disk to travel over the writing-surface the succession of impressions formed by the type will be in alin'ement and a printed line will therefrom the radial slits 71, which open'out through the opposite face of the disk, the pins-67, above referred to, projecting through i said" slits the full depth of the ledge 65 to per- ,presently appear.

Thetype-disk is provided with ahuh mit contact therewith of thesprings 66,. the slits.71 reaching up to the inner circle of the ledge 65 and having a radial depth sufficient to allow for the-necessary reciprocation of the type-bars as the same are ejected and impressed against the writing-surface, as will Eachtype-bar when'once ejected will be returned to its normal position within-its socket by the spring 66, it being understood that the peripheral surface of the entireseries of type characters is substan-,

tially and normally flush withthe peripheral surface of the ledge65 the base of each character resting against the solid surface on each side of the socket formed for the reception of the type-bar. (See Fig. 6.) i

s It was. stated above that with the depression of any key the character in the type-disk corresponding thereto was always swung around opposite the same point. 'This point is the medial line of the ink-ribbon 72, which passes under the vertical diameter of the typedisk, the ribbon being guided over guide-walls or pulleys 73, mounted .on each side of the type-disk and supported by arms or brackets 74, secured to the ty'pe-carriage'frame, (see Fig. 3,) and-passing also over; ad ditionalid-lers or guide-pulleys 75,"(shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1,) disposed on the inside of the outer bars of the type-carriage frame, the necessary frictional contact between the ribbon and idlers being insured by forcing the idlers against the ribbon by the horizontal adjustment of the screws 76, mounted in U-shaped brackets 77, disposed on the outside of said outer bars, the said screws by being turned in one direction or the other regulating the position of the'idlers, the connection between the latter and the screws being efiected in any mechanical manner well known in the art and not claimed herein. The free ends of the ribbon wind on or unwind from (depending upon the position of the clutchescontrolling the drums) one of two drums 78, loosely mounted on the rotating axles of the typecarriage frame, one or the other of the drums being at all times coupled to rotate with its axle by means of a clutch 79 feathered thereto, either clutch being adapted to be coupled to its corresponding drum. In practice, of

course, it is necessary to couple the'particular drum which rotates (in the travel'of the carriage)in the direction to wind the ribbon,-leaving the opposite end to be unwound from'the other loose drum. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) The shifting of the clutches is accomplished by hand.

When the type-disk has been rotated to bring any type character over theribbon superposed above the writing-page of the book 4 by the depression of a key corresponding to such character, it is necessary, of course, to eject the type-bar from'its socket with sufiicient force to impress the character thereof through the ribbon onto 'the writing-surface of the book. This ejection isaccomplis'hed at theproper moment by the following mechanism: Mounted pivotally on a pin or rod 81 between the lower ends of the brackets 54 is a type-ejecting lever or hammer 82, whose short arm is provided with a trigger or arm 83, pivoted in such a way as to drop normally to a horizontal position by its own weight, the heel 2-43 thereof under the circumstances (see Fig. 4) bearing against the under surface of the said lever and the trigger proper being in a position to be struck by the downward oscillation of the apron 47 upon the operation and full depression of any key, (it being obvious that the trigger can be tilted out of the influence of the apron when desired.) The moment the free edge of the apron strikes the trigger it will depress the same, tilting the long arm of the lever 82 upwardly, the same being subsequently forcibly thrown outwardly by the resilient action of the actuating-spring 84, whose free flexed portion always bears against the ejecting-lever, the fixed end of the spring being secured rigidly to two pins or bars 85 85 carried between the brackets 54. One bracket 54 is shown in Fig. 3 and the other in Fig. 4, being separated by a space substantially equal to a little more than the thickness of the type-disk to accommodate the mounting of the parts just described and the toothed segment, previously referred to, the latter being-pivoted between the brackets and disposed along one face of the typedisk and the lever 82 and spring 84 being mounted also between the brackets, but disposed along the opposite face of the type-disk. It will be remembered that the face along which the type-bar sockets 69 of the type-disk are disposed is provided with an annular ledge 70. Now in order that the mallet 86 of the ejecting-lever 82 may come within this ledge,

so as to squarely strike the inner projecting ends of the type-bars 6s when said lever is forced outwardly and downwardly by the resiliency of the spring 84, I provide the free end of the long arm of said lever with a laterallyprojecting arm 87, of'sufficient length to come within the inner circle of the ledge 70 aforesaid, attaching the mallet 86 directly to said arm 87. Thus it is that with the full depression of any key the oscillation of the keyboard resulting therefrom immediately rotates the type-disk, bringing the proper typebar opposite the ribbon, by which time the hammeror type-ejecting lever has been raised by the downward depression of the apron 47 against the trigger of the hammer, the latter striking the type-bar and ejecting the same from its socket the instant before the typedisk begins to return to its original position upon release of the key depressed. In the downward depression of the apron under the action of any key the edge of the apron by the time it is fully depressed will have slipped off the trigger 83, permitting the spring 84 to force downwardly the long arm of the ejecting-lever thus raised and eject the type-bar before the type-disk has started to make its return rotation to its original position. The

type-bar once ejected, the key is released, whereupon the type disk, the keyboard, and apron return to their normal position, the latter passing and tilting upwardly the projecting arm of the trigger 83, which is pivoted so as to allow the apron to pass freely upward without resistance, the arm of the triggerdropping to its normal position after the apron has resumed its raised position, ready to again intercept the apron upon its depression by the next key operated on. (See dotted positions in Fig. 4.)

To prevent a too-forcible impact by the hammer upon its release from the apron, I provide a limiting-pin 88 therefor, secured adjacent to the pi'votal axis ofthe hammer. In the cutting of the type-bar sockets 69 from the ledge 70 of the type disk I leave projecting from the face of the latter a few pegs or pins 89, which are subsequently passed through the walls of an annular cover-plate 90, the ends of the pins being subsequently expanded or burred over the openings cut in the cover-plate for their reception, thereby riveting,as it were, the cover-plate to the typedisk along the face adjacent to the sockets.

Inasmuch as the writing-surface in the pres ent invention is stationary, it follows that the type-carriage and type-disk carried thereby must be advanced a space for each succeeding letter or character to be imprinted on said page. This feeding of the type carriage, which of course must take place directly after any character has been imprint-ed, is accomplished by the following mechanism: Mounted in suitable bearings 91 at the rear edge of the keyboard-frame is a carriage-advancing screw 92, to which the type-carriage may be coupled by means of a block or nut 93, the screw-threaded wall of which partially embraces the screw-threaded periphery of the feed screw 92. The block 93 has formed therein a pocket 93, between the limitingwalls of which is adapted to operate a cam 94, the stem of which is mounted in a bridgeplate 95, secured at opposite ends to the type carriage frame and mounted directly over the block. The outer projecting end of the stem of the cam is provided with an operatinghandle 96, which when swung to the position shown in Fig. 2 rotates and forces the cam against the forward wall of the pocket, and thus forces the nut into engagement with the screw. If swung to the left of the position shown in Fig. 2, the block would be disengaged. That the latter may travel in a direct line, it rests in a pocket or depression 97 in the bar of the frame which carries it, the walls of which guide it as it is being coupled to or uncoupled from the screw 92. In order to feed or advance the type-carriage while coupled to the feed-screw 92, the latter must of course be periodically turned in its bearings at the conclusion of the depression of any key. The rotating mechanism for the screw is as follows: Secured to one of the projecting ends of the hinge pin or rod 48 of the IIO apron 47 along the outside of one of the end walls of the keyboard is an arm 98, the free end of which is pivotally connected to the lower end of a link 100, whose upper end is pivotally secured near the middle of a lever 101, pivoted at one end to the keyboardframe, the opposite end being provided with a slot 102, through which is pivotally connected the lower end of a second link 103, the upper end of the latter being pivotally secured to the end of a crank-arm 104, forming one arm of a rock-shaft or spindle 105, mountat the upper end of the keyboard-frame adjacent to one end of the feed screw 92. The

free end of the other arm 106 of the rockshaft is-provided with a spring-arm 107, hear.- ing against one (or the other) side of a teat 108 on the double pawl 109, pivoted to the arm 106 below the upper or free end thereof, the pawl being adapted to engage a pinion 110, carried at the. adjacent end of the feedscrew 92. Upon the depression ofany key and consequent rocking of the rod 48 the several link connections described will rock the freeend of the arm 106 in the direction as shown by the arrow in Fig. 3, the pawl riding freely over the pinion in this direction, but positively engaging said pinion and tu-rn ing the screw when the parts are resuming their normal position.

With the turning of the screw 92 in the manner-indicated itis obvious, of course, that the type-carriage will be advanced a space foreach keystruck. As the carriage reaches the end of its travel or end of the line printed by-it it sounds an alarm, as is usual with this class of machines, the "present device having a bell 111 mounted on the carriage, in proximity to which is a hammer 112, pivoted also to the carriage below the rail thereof, the short arm of the hammer having a serrated surface which rides over the ridge of a tooth 113', depending from the rail, the serrations while riding over the tooth imparting aseries I spring 114 against the bell. however, will answer the same purpose.

of oscillations to the ham mer-lever, the hammer of which is forcibly brought by a succession of impacts under the action of a flexed Any other alarm, At the conclusion of a line the type-carriage is uncoupled from the screw 92, as previously indicated, andshifted to the left end of the writing-surface of the bookor in the adjust-r inent of the book to or from the operator in setting the same to imprint the characters as follows 5 sirable to rule the pages of the book either across or up and down the pages. For this purpose I provide thetype-carriage with tubular sockets 115, the walls of which are provided with binding-screws 116 for firmly securing the handle portions of any prevailing form ofright-line pen with which the ruling is to be accomplished. In order to hold the surface of the page of the book perfectly plane during the printing operation, I provide the rear bottom edge of the keyboard-frame with a roller or cylinder 117, which is adapted at all times to rest on the page operated on. 7 Referring back to the shifting plate 39, it will be remembered that the'same is provided with a series of cirular openings 41 normally concentric with the stems of the keys toallow the latter to be depressed their full extent or until the nuts 44, which constitute the bases of the keys, strike the keyboard. If, however, the shifting plate 39 is shifted from its no-rmalposition by the depression of the shifter-key (marked shifter on. the drawings) until the walls of the several openings bear against or come in contact with-the keystems, thereby bringing the centers of the openings 41 eccentric to the stems and preventing the free passage of the nuts 44 through said openings, (see Fig. 9,) the result willbe that upon the depression of any key the nut 44 thereof will impinge against the shifting plate, thereby intercepting the key in its along any predetermined line it maybe de downward movementbetore it has made its full stroke, necessitating a greater oscillation on the part of the keyboard to allow for the complete downward stroke of the key, (tov properly actuate the type-ejecting hammer,)- and hence oscillating thetoothed segment through a greater angle and imparting a greater or different degree of rotation to the type-disk and bringinginto position (over the ribbon) a character different from what would have been presented had the shifting plate not been disturbed. This dilferent character thus presented always corresponds to the capital letter for any lowercase .letter marked on the keys or buttons and to the characters marked conjointly and to the left of the characters indicated on the remaining keys of the series. By thus depressing the shifter-key, so as=to move the shifting plate as indicated, and holdingit depressed with one hand, then by operating any of the character-keys the operator will imprint any of the left-hand characters marked on said keys. By operatin g the character-keys when the shifter is in its normal position then the characters marked on the right on each key will be imprinted on the writing-page; The manner in which the shifting plate is temporarily shoved to one side for the purpose above indicated is The shifter-key is position above the keyboard by means of a coiled spring 80, resting on the keyboard, (the base ofthe spring passing through an opening normally held to a-raised 117, formed in the shifting plate for its reception,) the key being coupled to the short arm of a bell cran'k lever 118, pivoted between the lugs or brackets 119, resting on the keyboard and projecting through the shifting plate, the long arm of the bell-crank engagin a depression 99 in the shifting plate formed for its reception. By depressing the shifter-key the long arm of the bell-crank 118 will swing to the right, Fig. 9, shoving the shifting plate to one side, (see Fig. 9,) as already described. Upon release of the shifter-key the plate 39 will assume its normal position.

With the exception of the shifter-key and spacer-key, every key depressed imparts oscillation to the keyboard for the purpose of swinging the toothed segment and rotating the type-disk to bring a type-character over the ribbon; but as the spacer-key is merely for spacing and the shifter for shifting the shifting plate they are purposely mounted along the axis of oscillation of the keyboard, where they cannot affect the latter when depressed, and of course can have no effect on the type-disk.

It was stated in the first part of the description that the device was reversible-that is to say, the screw 92 can be actuated with the downward depression of a key, .so as to feed the type-carriage from right to left. While the occasion may seldom arise for such a movement, (except, perhaps, in printing Hebrew or indicating dashes or similar purposes,) the machine may sometimes be called into such service. To feed the type-carriage in such reverse direction, the pawl 109 may be tilted so as to cause the opposite end thereof to engage the pinion 110, the pawl being held in such position by the spring-arm 107 engaging the opposite face of the teat 108 of the pawl. With this arrangement the screw 92 would be rotated upon the downward movement of any key, as is obvious, instead of on the upward movement thereof, the pinion being rotated as the arm 106, carrying said pawl, was in the act of swinging forward.

It will of course be apparent that whatever may be the position of the type-carriage along the feed-screw 92 the yoke of the short arm of the toothed segment will always be connected to the rear bead of the keyboard, permitting the latter to rock the segment at all times, and thus impart the necessary rota tion to the type-disk to bring the latter to its recording position. While the present device is specifically denominatedas a book type-Writer,it is apparent that it may be made to operate upon any writing-surface or sheet mounted on the book-platform. It was stated above that the spacer-key was directly in the line of the axis of oscillation of the keyboard to avoid rotating the type-disk when struck, as the spacer is not intended to imprint any character on the writing-surface;

but as a depression of this key will operate the apron, which in turn actuatesthe typeejecting hammer to prevent the latter from When using the shifter-key to produce capital letters or such other characters marked on the remaining keys as result from a movement of the shifting plate, the operator must necessarily use both hands, one to hold the shifter-key depressed and the other to operate the character-keys.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a book type-writer, a suitable keyboard adapted to oscillate about a substantially centrally disposed axis, and a movable or traveling type-carriage in cooperative connection with one of the free or oscillating edges of the keyboard, substantially as set forth.

2. In a book type-writer, a suitable oscillating keyboard, and a movable or traveling type-carriage adapted to be coupled thereto, substantially as set forth.

3. In a book type-writer, a suitable oscillating keyboard, a movable type-carriage coupled thereto, and means for feeding the latter longitudinally along the keyboard in either direction, substantially as set forth.

4. In a book type-writer, a suitable oscillatin g keyboard, a movable type-carriage coupled thereto, and means for feeding the latter along the keyboard in one direction upon the release of any key, substantially as set forth.

5. In a book type-writer, a suitable oscillating keyboard, a movable type-carriage coupled thereto, and means for feeding the latter along the keyboard in one direction upon the depression of any key, substantially as set forth.

6. In a book type-writer, a suitable oscillating keyboard, a movable type-carriage coupled thereto, a type-disk mounted on said carriage, a track for the carriage, means for advancing the carriage along the track by the operation of the keys, and intermediate connections between the keyboard and the typedisk for rotating the latter, substantially as set forth.

7. In a book type-writer, a suitable oscillatin g keyboard, a movable type-carriage coupled thereto, a type-disk rotatably mounted on said carriage, type-bars mounted radially in the type-disk and having their characters disposed along the periphery of said disk, means for rotating the type-disk upon the depression of any key, and means for ejecting the type-bar when the type-disk has been swung around to its recording position, substantially as set forth.

8. In a book type-writer a suitable keyboard, a type-carriage coupled thereto, a typedisk mounted on the carriage, means for rotating the type-disk upon the depression of a key, and means for forcing the type-bars carried by the disk against the writing-surface I upon the rotation of the type-disk to a recorddepression of any key, and advancing the type-carriage upon the release of the said key, substantially as set forth;

10. In a book type-writer, a rotatable type disk, a type-bar having a body portion and a laterally-projecting pin, mounted in the same,

means for ejecting the outer ends of the typebars beyond the periphery of the disk, and suitable springs bearing against the lateral pins for returning the type-bars to their normal position Within the type-disk, substantially as set forth.

11. In a book type-writer, a suitable rotatable type-disk having a series of radially-disposed sockets opening through the periphery and one face thereof, a peripheral ledge forming a part of the disk, and disposed adjacent to the opposite face of the disk, slots leading fromthe sockets, and opening out from the face adjacent to the ledge, the sockets and slots being each adapted to respectively receive a type-bar and lateral pin projecting from the same, and a series of springs carried by the ledge and bearing against the pins for retaining the type-bars normally within their sockets, substantially as set forth.

12. In a book type-writer, a keyboard, a plate mounted'on the same, and provided with a series of openings for the passage of the stems of the keys, andforthe passage therethrough of the, bases of the keys when depressed, and means for shifting said plate to bring the opening thereof eccentric to the axes of the stems and bases of the keys, and thus intercept the downward movement of the latter at an earlier point of their depression than When the shifting plate is in its normal posi-' tion, substantially as set forth.

13. In a book type-writer, a keyboard, a plate mounted on and adapted to be guided along the same, and provided with a series of circular openings for the free passage of the stems of the keys, and for the passage of the bases of the keys when depressed, a shifterkey mounted on a spring resting on the keyboard and passing through an opening in the shifting plate for its reception, a bell-crank lever coupled to the shifter-key and pivoted between lugs or brackets resting on the keyboard and passing through the shifting plate, the long arm of the bell-crank being coupled to the shifting plate, and the latter being adapted to be shifted from its normal position upon a depression of the shifter-key, substantially'as set forth.

14:. In a book type-writer, an oscillating keyboard, a-series of keys or buttons for the same, each button or key having represented thereon two characters, a type-disk, suitable connections between the keyboard and typedisk .for rotating the latter to one position to record one of the characters marked on the key upon depression of the latter and by its impact against the keyboard at a certain point of its stroke, and means for causing the key to impact at a different point of its stroke and thereby oscillate the keyboard through a different are and thus rotate the type-disk to a position to record the second character marked on the key, substantially as set forth.

. 15. In a book type-writer, a suitable oscillating keyboard, a movable or traveling typecarriage coupled thereto, a type-disk mounted on the carriage, a pinion connected to the axis-of rotation of the type-disk, a toothed segment pivoted to the carriage and meshing with the pinion the opposite arm of the segment being loosely, and pivotally connected to the keyboard, whereby, upon oscillation of the keyboard rotation Will be imparted to the type-disk, substantially as set forth. i

16. In a book type-writer,a keyboard-frame, a keyboard pivotally mounted on said frame, keys disposed on the keyboard on each side of the axis thereof, a springactuated apron adapted to support the keys, a suitable distance above thekeyboard a spring-controlled type-ejecting lever or hammer adapted to be tripped in one direction upon the depression of any key and the consequent depression of the apron, the keyboard being adapted to be struck by the keys before they arefully depressed, and oscillated during the balance of remaining portion of their stroke after their impact against the keyboard, substantially as set forth.

17. In a book typewriter,a keyboardframe, akeyboard pivotally mounted on said frame, keys disposed on the keyboard and having stems passing through the same, a springactuated, pivoted apron supporting the bases of the stems, and retaining the keys in an elevated position above the keyboard, a typecarriage coupled to, and traveling in proximity to the keyboard, a rotating type-disk mounted on the type-carriage, a pinion carried by the shaft of the type-disk, a toothed segment pivoted on the type-carriage and having one arm loosely embracing the adjacent free edge of the keyboard, the teeth thereof meshing with the pinion, a springcontrolled type -ejecting lover or hammer pivot-ed in the type-carriage, and having a trigger pivoted adjacent to the free edge of the apron, a heel forming part of the trigger pass the same when the latter is moving in the-opposite direction, a mallet at the free end of the ham mer-lever, the keyboard being adapted to be struck by the keys and oscillated before they have completed their full stroke, and suitable spring arms or plates connecting one edge of the keyboard to the frame thereof, whereby the same is returned to its normal position upon release of the keys, the parts operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

18. In a book type-writer, an oscillating keyboard, a feed-screw located adjacent to the same, a type-carriage, a nut carried by the carriage, a guide-pocket for the same, a depression or pocket formed in the nut, a cam pivoted to the carriage and operating in the pocket of the nut, and adapted when turned in one direction to couple the nut to the feed-screw, and to uncouple the same when turned in the opposite direction, substantially as set forth.

19. In a book type-writer, a suitable keyboard,depression-keys for the same, a springcontrolled apron, normally supporting the keys above'the keyboard, a feed-screw, a type-carriage coupled thereto, a pinion at one end of the screw, a series of links and levers between the apron and pinion, and a pawl carried by the last link in the series and actuating the pinion upon the operation of any key, substantially as set forth.

20. In a book type-writer, an oscillating keyboard, a type-carriage coupled thereto, and means for feeding the type-carriage in either direction along the keyboard during the oscillation of the latter, substantially as set forth.

21. In a book type-writer, a keyboard, a series of keys.for the same, a feed-screw, a pinion at one end of the same, a series of links between the keys and pinion, a double pawl carried by the last of the series of links and adapted according to the position thereof to rotate the pinion in either direction upon the operation of any key,substantiall yas set forth.

22. In a book type-writer, a type-carriage, suitable rails therefor, means for attaching right-line or ruling pens thereto, means for feeding a book or other writing-surface under the pens in a direction at right angles to the travel of the carriage, whereby lines may be ruled over the page either vertically or horizontally across the page, substantially as set forth.

23. Ina-booktype-writer,astationaryframe,

an oscillating keyboard mounted along the u p per portion thereof, a traveling type-carriage located adjacent to said keyboard,and a booksupporting frame movably mounted at the lower portion of the stationary frame, and adapted to be fed under the type-carriage and fed in a direction at right angles to the travel of the latter, substantially as set forth.

24. In a book type-writer,a stationaryframe, a feed-screw mounted in suitable standards at the base thereof, a pinion at one end of the screw, a gear-wheel pivoted on one of the standards and meshing with the pinion, an arm loosely swung about the hubiof the gearwheel, a pawl carried by the arm and adapted to engage theteeth of the gear-wheel with the swinging of the arm in one direction, substan tially as set forth.

25. In a book type-writer, a stationary frame, a feed-screw mounted in suitable standards at the base thereof, a pinion at the front end of the screw, a gear-wheel mounted on the front standard below the pinion and adapted .to mesh with the same, an arm loosely embracing the hub of the gear-wheel, a pointer at the end of said arm, a graduated plate secured to the stationary frame behind the arm, a double pawl pivoted to the arm and adapted to engage the teeth of the gear-wheel with the swinging of the arm in one direction, whereby the screw may be turned a' predetermined number of rotations,substantially as set forth.

26. In a book typewriter-,a stationary frame, a feed-screw mounted at the base of the same, a book-supporting frame having a housing through which said screw loosely passes, a depending guideway forming a part of said housing, a coupling block or nut in said guideway, said block being recessed to a sufficient depth for the reception of a suitable cam, a shaft or rod to one end of which the cam is secured,

' said shaft passing through one of the members or beams constituting the book-supporting frame, and an arm at the opposite end of the shaft, for turning the latter and cam carried by it, in either direction and thereby either couple the nut to, or uncouple the same from,the feed-screw,substantially as set forth. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES HAMILTON MYERS. Witnesses:

JNo. G. SUMMERS, W. F. DowNs.

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